Lawmaker: Schools should teach students how to use guns

State Rep. James White has filed a bill that would allow school districts to offer an elective course on gun training and safety and the “importance of the Second Amendment.”

The Republican and former teacher from Woodville filed HB 1142 Friday, which aims to offer schools guidance on how to provide gun training for students. The course would feature “training in the use of firearms, including the safe use of common firearms such as pistols, revolvers, rifles and shotguns.” The bill, labeled “A common-sense approach” on White’s website, specifies the purpose of the course is to “teach the history and importance of the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and to teach respect for and proper use of firearms.”

“This is not about indoctrination, it is about education,” White said. “The best way to strengthen the Constitution and the Second Amendment in particular is by giving it some prominence in our statewide curriculum.”

The bill requires the course be taught by a certified concealed handgun license instructor or a peace officer and calls for lessons on hunter’s safety and firearm cleaning and maintenance.

White said timing of the bill is important because of the national debate on gun regulations.

“Factions on both sides of the issue that are just screaming at each other,” White said. “Let’s introduce this from an educational standpoint instead of the hyperbole of the debate of the day.”

He stressed that offering the course would be up to local school boards and an elective for students. If the bill passes, it will advance to the Texas Education Agency and the State Board of Education for oversight and approval, he said.